Circuit control device



Aug. 22, 1939.

c. w. MOORE 2,170,154

CIRCUIT CONTROL DEVICE Filed May 28, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 I If 6 61 775' T 1 67 1? 1 2 b7 11 g, 2

I l 53 0 5 2 4 1 a 2 3 49 I IN VEN TOR.

CZ rezzce 11X floors, BY

ffl/ W A TTORNE Y.

" Patented Aug. 22, 1939 o UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CIRCUIT CONTROLDEVICE Clarence W. Moore, Roslyn, Pa, asslgnor, by

mesnc assignments, to United Specialties Company, Detroit, Mich, acorporation of Delaware Application May 28, 1934, Serial No. 727,976 12Claims. (Cl. 20044) This invention relates to circuit control destartercircuit, and by so constructing the stavices and involves variousimprovements in comtlonary contact elements and the movable conbinedswitch and lock structures. As illustrated tactor as to prevent theautomatic means from herein, these improvements are embodied in areturning the movable contactor beyond the posicombined switch'and lockof a type employed tion for normal operation of the engine. 5 pr m rilyfor controlling the electrical circuits A still further object of theinvention is the of automobile ignition and starting devices, butprovision of an improved terminal block for the it is to be understoodthat the invention is equalstationary contact elements. In terminalblocks ly useful for controlling circuits other than those of thisgeneral character it is the usual practice specifically disclosed. toembed the stationary contact elements in a 10 One of the principalobjects of the invention block of insulating material, preferably of akind is the provision, in a circuit control switch havwhich may bereadily molded. Phenol-resin ing manually operated means for moving aconcompositions are particularly well adapted for ta tor e e e t t a pality f positions, of use in such terminal blocks and are commonly 35means for automatically returning the contactor used for that purpose.It has been the practice element to apredetel'mined p s on W e o dheretofore in making such blocks to mold the h r yon y he m n al y op atmeans contact elements or terminal posts in the block,

n t De d o m f the ev s pu p e or to insert these elements in suitableopenings is mpli h y the use of stati nary conprovided in the blockswhen they are molded.

go tact elements and arotary contactor having man- In ither case, it hasbeen necessary to grind u lly operated me n r m v n it n p oil the endsof the terminal posts which form ative relation with the variousstationary conth t t l t i order t bring th ptact el m nts, t e a y p td means crating faces of the contact elements into posituating he rotarycontactor through a o y tions flush with the face of the block andpolish 0 k y e hav n Coiled Spring associ te them to such an extent thatthey would not in- 25 therewith in such a manner as to be placed underterfere with the proper operation of the movable suiiicient tension toreturn the rotary contactor ta t r, to one of its circuit controllingpositions when Under th practice heretofore f llowed, it, has it ismoved t ereb y y the manually operbeen difiicult to grind off thesurfaces of the conated mea s. tact elements without destroying thepolished 36 The construction n arrangement of the 8921- surface inherentin the molded phenol-resin block. tionary contacts and the movablecontactor are w t t u 1b1 k tr ct d i a cordanc such that, when themovable contactor is rot t present ti mthe operating surfaces tat d y te a y Operated means to the of the stationary contact elements may beground 5 limit of its movement in one direction, both the and h d t h tt as i necessary ith- 5 ignition and starter circuits of the automobilet interfering in any way ith th polished are closed, and as soon as themanually operurface of t i m h t l, ated means is released the movablecontactor is A still further obje t of th invention i th returned to aposition with respect to the staprovision f improved eans for retainingthe 40 tionary contact elements wherein the starter clrvarious parts ofthe Switch Structure in assem- 40 cult is broken while the ignitioncircuit remains bled relation This object is accomplished by closed, themovable contactor remaining in the enclosing the switch elements withina Suitable position for normal operat1on of the automobile housing, withcertain elements seated upon parts engine until it is moved therefrom bythe manof the housing when the elements are in assem g ffi g ii gf theinvention is the bled relation, and by retaining them in assem- 45vision of r neails for rendering the automatic P relation by means ofcover plate Secured means ineffective when the movable contactor m theOpel} end of the housing' is in a predetermined cooperative relationwith other obJects and advantages of the improved respect to thestationary contact elements. This w will be apparent (ml the following50 object is accomplished by so constructing the scriptlon, taken w tthe a w pa y d awstationary contact elements and the movable h1g5Wherelni contactor that there is no resistance to the opi 1 s a n tud als t onal vi w throu h eration of the automatic means when the movthedevice supported in position in the rear of able contactor is in aposition to energize the the instrument panel of an automobile; w

Frgfl is a transverse sectional view, partly in elevation, taken on theline 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an exploded view showing the detailed structure of the frontend of the lock housing, reduced in size;

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view of the device, partly inelevation, taken on the line 44 of Fig. 6;

Fig. 5 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 5--5 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 is a transverse sectional view taken on the the terminal blockwithout the wear-resistant face plate in position;

Fig. 12 is a reduced elevational view of the face plate for the terminalblock;

Fig. 13 is a diagrammatic view showing the movable contactor in aposition wherein the battery circuit is open and the starter, ignitionand gasoline gauge circuits are grounded;

Fig. 14 is a diagrammatic view showing the movable contactor in aposition to close the battery, ignition and gasoline gauge circuits; and

Fig. 15 is a diagrammatic view showing the movable contactor in aposition to close the battery, starter, ignition and gasoline gaugecircuits.

The combined lock and switch elements of the device illustrated hereinare enclosed within a housing l0 comprising a cylindrical front portionH and an enlarged cylindrical rear portion l2. The forward end of thefront portion abuts against the edge of an opening l3 in a reinforcingsub-panel l4, this opening alining with a similar opening |5 in theinstrument panel l5 of the automobile. The housing IB is secured in thisposition by means of a pair of bolts |1 engaging with a pair ofoppositely extending arms l8 integral with the housing, the heads of thebolts preferably being countersunk in the sub-panel l4 and weldedthereto.

A look structure, preferably of the type including a rotary cylinder I9,is encased within the front portion H of the housing so that its forwardend extends slightly in advance of the front end of the body of thehousing as shown in Fig. 1. The front end of lock cylinder I9 isprovided with a suitable opening 20 for receiving a key 2| by means ofwhich the lock is actuated and the movable element of the switchstructure is moved into its various circuit controlling positions. Thelock cylinder l9 may be of any well known construction and is preferablyof the type in which a plurality of spring pressed plungers 22,extending transversely of the cylinder, engage with a longitudinalgroove in the housing in order to retain the device in locked position,unlocking thereof being accomplished by the insertion of the key 2|. Thecylinder I9 is retained within the housing by the engagement of anarcuate, spring pressed retainer plate 23 with an annular shoulder 24 onthe inside of the housing.

Inasmuch as the housing |0 is preferably formed by a casting operation,a structure is utilized for finishing the front end thereof easily andeconomically without necessitating the appli cation of the usualfinishing processes to the body of the housing. As shown herein, themarginal edge of the front end of the housing is provided with aforwardly extending flange 25 and an annular groove 26 located withinthis flange. A

finished ferrule 21 has its inner end seated within the annular groove26 and its outer end extending into the alined openings l3 and I5 in thesubpanel and the instrument panel. A finished washer 28 is provided witha central opening 29 to receive the front end of the lock cylinder I9and is supported upon the front end of the body portion of the housingand retained in position thereon by means of a shoulder 30 on the insideof the ferrule 21.

The ferrule 21 is provided with an arcuate slot 3| alining with acutaway portion 32 in the flange 25 in order that the front end of thelock cylinder l9 may be provided with indirect illumination from thelight 33 supported in the rear of the instrument panel. The ferrule 21may be secured against rotary movement by providing the washer 28 withoppositely arranged shoulders 34 extending through the slot 3| andengaging with the ends thereof, and by providing the washer with aradial lug 35 extending through the slot 3| and having its angularlybent end engaging within a notch 36 in the flange 25. The ferrule 21 maybe retained in position on the housing by indenting or staking theflange 25 at intervals in such a manner that the staked portions 31engage with a circumferential shoulder 38 on the outside of the ferrule.

Mounted within an annular recess 39 between a reduced portion on therear end of the cylinder l9 and a cap member 40 non-rotatable withrespect to the cylinder and secured thereon by means of a screw 4| is acoiled spring 42 one end 45 of which is bent outwardly and extends intoan opening 46 in the cap member. The opposite end 43 of the coiledspring 42 is bent outwardly and extends through an arcuate slot 44 inthe forward end of the capmember 40 and into a position for engagementwith a stop in 41 on the inside of the housing to thereby tension thespring when the key 2| is turned to rotate the movable switch elementbeyond a predetermined position.

The inner end of the cap member 40 is provided with a pair of spacedlugs 48 for engagement within a transversely extending recess 49 of acylindrical block 50 of insulating material upon which the movablecontactor 5| is mounted. A positioning lug 52 may also be provided oncap member 40 for engagement within a corresponding recess in block 50to locate the contactor 5| when the parts are assembled in the housing.

The contactor 5| is substantially triangular in shape and is providedwith three spaced contact elements 53 pressed outwardly from one sidethereof, and an outwardly pressed central boss 54 on the opposite sidefor engagement within one end of a coiled spring 55 the opposite end ofwhich is seated within a recess 56 in the adjacent face of the block 50.The contactor 5| is provided with a pair of oppositely arranged arms 51which extend into diametrically arranged grooves 58 in the block 50,with the free ends thereof bent inwardly for engagement with abutments59 to retain the contactor 5| in position with respect to the blockbefore the parts are assembled in the housing. When the block 50, withthe contactor 5| secured thereto, is assembled in cooperative relationto the cap memcured within the base 66 tact elements may be varied asmay be required by the circuits to be controlled, the structure shownherein is adapted for use in controlling starter, ignition and gasolinegauge circuits and for grounding these circuits when the movablecontactor is rotated into a position to break the battery circuit.

The contact element B constitutes one end of a terminal post 62extending through the terminal block 6| and having a binding screw 63threaded in the opposite end thereof with which connection to thebattery is made. The contact element B is secured one end of a bridgingcontact strip 64 the opposite end of which is secured to one end of ananchor post 65 the opposite end of which is seof the terminal block asshown in Fig. 8.

The contact element T constitutes one end of a terminal post 61 whichextends through the terminal block and has a binding screw 68 threadedin the opposite end thereof to which connection with the gasoline gaugeis made. The contact element T is likewise secured in one end of abridging contact strip 69 the opposite end of which has secured thereinan anchor post 10 having its inner end secured within the base tionedwithin a central opening in the base 66 and having the ignition cable 72connected thereto. The opposite end of the bridging element 'H issecured to the inner end of a stub post 13 the outer end of which formsa contact element I.

The contact element S constitutes one end of a terminal post 14 whichextends through the terminal block and is threaded at its opposite endto receive a binding screw 15 to which the Wiring for the starter isconnected.

As shown in- Fig. 10, the stationary contact element G is in the form ofa stub post having its inner end extending into the base 66 and engagingwith a grounding strap 76 the outer end of which contacts with the wallof the housing when the terminal block is assembled therein.

The base 66 of the terminal block is preferably molded from aphenol-resin composition. While it may be molded with the variousterminal posts and anchor posts in position therein, it is preferablymolded with suitable openings therein toreceive the terminal posts andanchor posts. As disclosed herein the terminal posts 62, 61 and '14 areprovided with annular milled or otherwise roughened portions 11 fortight frictional engagement with the walls of the respective openings inthe base when the posts are pressed into position therein. These postsmay also be provided with non-circular portions 18 for engagement withincorrespondingly shaped recesses in the base to prevent rotation of theposts when assembled therein. The various terminal posts and anchorposts are also provided with annular flanges 19 which seat Withincorresponding recesses in the face of the base 66, the outer faces ofthese flanges being positioned in the same plane slightly outwardly ofthe face of the base to form a seat for the within an opening in plate66. The outer face of terminal post 61 is positioned wear-resistant facethe flange on the inwardly of the plane'of the outer faces of the otherflanges 19 by reason of the positioning of one end of the bridgingmember Ii thereon, and in this case the outer face of the end of thebridging member H is in the plane of the other flanges.

The face plate 80 is formed from wear-resistant insulating material,preferably a laminated, pheare pressed into their respective openings inthe base 66 so that the outer faces of the flanges 19 formed thereon arein the same plane, it being understood that the flange 19 on theterminal post 61 is located as hereinbefore described. The variousstationary contact elements, together with the bridging contact strips64 and 66, are then ground oil until these elements are in the sameplane. The face plate 80, formed with anchor posts, the thickness suchthat the contact elements and bridging assembled is avoided, taken ofthe polished. laminated face plate and full advantage may bewear-resisting face of the as it comes from the mold.

When the assembled parts of the terminal block 6! are inserted in thecylindrical portion i2 of the housing, the edge of the face plate 86seats upon a shoulder 81 on the inside of the housing, and the terminalblock together with the movable contractor, is retained in position bymeans of a closure plate 82. This closure plate is provided withsuitable openings to receive the insulated bosses through which theterminal posts 62, 67 and 14 extend, and it preferably has a ferrule 33secured thereto within which one end of the armor 84 for the ignitioncable i2 is secured. The closure plate is retained in position byturning the edge of the open end of the enlarged portion M of thehousing inwardly thereover. The terminal block is located of a lug B5 onthe housing within a slot 86 in the base 66 as shown in Figs. 6 and 7,and a corresponding notch 81 is provided in the edge of the face plate86 for engagement with the lug 85 when the parts are assembled.

Referring to Figs. 13, 14 and 15 of the drawings it will be seen thatwhen the contactor 5! is rotated to the limit of its movement in aclockwise direction by the key 2i, as shown in Fig. 15, whereby thestarter and ignition circuits are connected to the battery circuit, thethree contact faces in order not to interfere with the action of coiledspring 42 in returning the contactor to the position of normal engineoperation as illustrated in Fig. 14. When in the latter position thecontact elements 53 are in engagement with the cupped ends of anchorposts 65 and 16 and cupped contact I of stub post 13. The cuppedformation of stationary contact element I and the outer ends of anchorposts 65 and 10 operates to discontinue the return movement of contactor5| from the starter position under the action of spring 42 so that whenthe key is inserted in the lock to unlock the device and is then turnedin a clockwise direction to rotate the contactor 5|, spring 42 will betensioned as the contactor moves from" the position shown in Fig. 13 tothe position shown in Fig. 15, and upon the release of the key thecontactor is rotated by spring 42 in a counter-clockwise direction awayfrom the starter position and is positively stopped in the position ofnormal engine operation, from which it may be rotated in eitherdirection by means of a key.

When the contactor- 5| is in the position shown in Fi 13. wherein thebattery circuit is broken and the starter, ignition and gasoline gaugecircuits are grounded, two of the contact elements 53 are in engagementwith smooth stationary contact elements T and S and the other element 53is in engagement with the cupped end of grounding contact G. In thiscase a single cupped stationary contact is sufficient to ind cate to theoperator that the contactor is in a position wherein the key may bewithdrawn to lock the device.

While certain forms and arrangements of the elements employed in theinvention are disclosed herein, it will be understood that these areillustrative and that various changes may be made therein withoutdeparting from the invention as defined by the appended claims.

What is desired to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a combined switch and lock structure, a housing, a rotary lockcylinder mounted therein, a rotary contactor member mounted therein formovement into a plurality of circuit controlling positions, meansinterengaging said cylinder and said member to transmit rotary motionfrom said cylinder to said member, manually operated means for actuatingsaid cylinder to move said member into its various circuit controllingpositions, a spring coiled around said cylinder and having one endconnected thereto for movement therewith and the opposite end connectedthereto for limited relative movement with respect thereto and a stop onsaid housing for engagement with the latter end of said spring totension said spring and thereby return said member to one of saidpositions when moved therebeyond by said manually operated means.

2. In a circuit control device, a terminal block comprising a base ofinsulating material, a plurality of spaced terminal posts secured insaid base and having the ends thereof protruding from one face of thebase and positioned in the same piano to provide stationary contactelemcnts, a shoulder on each of said posts positioned slightly outwardlyof the face of said base, said shoulders being uniformly spaced from theprotruding ends of said posts, a sheet of insulating material havingopenings therein to receive said contact elements and supported uponsaid shoulders with its exposed face flush with the protruding ends ofsaid posts, and means to retain said sheet in position.

3. In a circuit control device, a terminal block comprising a moldedbase of insulating material having a plurality of spaced openingsextending therethrough and provided with enlargements in one facethereof, terminal posts secured in said openings with the ends thereofpositioned in the same plane outside of said enlargements to providestationary contact elements, flanges on said posts positioned in saidenlargements with the outer faces thereof located in a plane between theadjacent face of said base and the plane of said contact elements, and asheet of wear-resistant insulating material having openings therein toreceive said contact elements and supported upon said flanges with itsexposed face flush with said contact elements.

4. In a circuit control device, a plurality of spaced terminal postshaving the adjacent ends thereof in the same plane to provide stationarycontact elements, a shoulder on each of said posts, said shoulders beinguniformly spaced from said ends, an insulating support for said posts,and a face plate of molded, wear-resistant insulating material removablyseated on said shoulders and having openings therein to receive saidcontact elements, with the outer molded surface of said plate flush withsaid ends.

5. In a circuit control device, a base member of insulating material, aplurality of spaced terminal posts supported in said base with theadjacent ends thereof terminating in the same plane outwardly of oneface of said base to provide stationary contact elements, an outwardlyprojecting shoulder on each of said posts, said shoulders being in aplane positioned outwardly of the adjacent face of said base member, anda face plate of wear-resistant insulating material removably seated onsaid shoulders and having the exposed face thereof in the plane of saidends.

6. In a circuit control device, a terminal block including a base ofmolded insulating material, a plurality of spaced terminal posts securedin said base with the ends projecting from one face thereof to providestationary contact elements, a shoulder on each of said posts, saidshoulders being uniformly spaced from said ends, and a face plate ofwear-resistant insulating material seated on said shoulders and havingits exposed, molded face in the plane of said ends, a housing enclosingsaid block, and means on said housing for retaining said base and saidplate in assembled relation.

7. In a circuit control device, a terminal block comprising a base ofinsulating material, a plurality of spaced terminal posts secured insaid base with the ends projecting from one face thereof to providestationary contact elements, a shoulder on each of said posts, saidshoulders being uniformly spaced from said ends, and a face plate ofwear-resistant insulating material removably seated on said shoulderswith its exposed face in the plane of said ends, a movable contactorelement cooperating with said stationary contact elements, a housingenclosing said block and said contactor element, and means on saidhousing for retaining said base, said plate and said contactor elementin assembled relation.

8. In a circuit control device, a housing having two spaced shoulders onthe interior thereof, a rotary contactor member supported on one of saidshoulders, a terminal block of insulating material supported on theother of said shoulders and having a plurality of stationary contactelements mounted thereon in cooperative relation to said rotarycontactor member, spring means for urging said contactor into engagementwith said block, and means in said housing for retaining said terminalblock and said rotary contactor member in assembled relation.

9. In a combined switch and lock structure, a rotary locking memberhaving a reduced portion on one end thereof, a rotary contactor membermovable into a plurality of circuit controling positions, meansinterconnecting said locking member and said contactor member totransmit rotary motion from said locking member to said contactormember, manually operated means for actuating said locking member tomove said contactor member into each of its circuit controllingpositions, a spring coiled around the reduced portion of said lockingmember and having one end connected to said locking member for movementtherewith and the opposite end connected to said locking member by alost motion connection, and a stop for engagement with the latter end ofsaid spring to tension the same and thereby return said contactor memberto one of its positions when moved therebeyond by said manually operatedmeans.

10. In a combined switch and lock structure, a rotary locking member, arotary contactor member movable into a plurality of circuit controllingpositions, means interconnecting said locking member and said contactormember to transmit rotary motion from said locking member to saidcontactor member, manually operated means for actuating said lockingmember to move said contactor member into each of its circuitcontrolling positions, a coiled spring having one end arranged formovement with said locking member and the opposite end arranged forlimited relative movement with respect to said locking member, and astop for engagement with the latter end of said spring to tension thesame and thereby return said contactor member to one of its positionswhen moved therebeyond by said manually operated means.

11. In a circuit control device, a contact supporting member comprisinga base of insulating material, a plurality of spaced terminal postssecured in said base, with theends protruding therefrom to providecontact elements in the same plane, and a sheet of molded,wear-resistant insulating material having openings therethrough toreceive the protruding ends of said posts and having its outer moldedand polished surface flush with said contact elements.

12. In a combined switch and lock structure, a housing member, a rotarylocking member, a rotary contactor member movable into a plurality ofcircuit controlling positions, means in teroonnecting said lockingmember and said contactor member to transmit rotary motion from saidlocking member to said contactor member, manually operated means foractuating said locking member to move said contactor member into each ofits circuit controlling positions, a spring operatively connectedbetween said locking member and said housing member, one end of saidspring being fixed with respect to one of said members and the oppositeend of said spring having a lost motionconnection with the other of saidmembers, and a stop for engagement with the latter end of said spring totension the same and therebyreturn said contactor member to one of itspositions when moved therebeyond by said manually operated means.

CLARENCE W. MOORE.

